Plot: What’s it about?
Gabriel Noone (Robin Williams) has his own radio show in New York, an hour in which he tells stories, one of his best skills. After all, he is also an accomplished writer, so his transition to the radio was a smooth one and he enjoys success at his post. But his personal life isn’t as golden as his professional life, due in large part to some recent events. His partner Jess (Bobby Cannavale) has been in his life for a long while, but Jess is leaving him, so Gabriel is alone. Of course this puts him in a vulnerable state, as he reaches to find a connection, which he finds in a manuscript. The work was given to him by a publisher and while the writing belonged to a child, Gabriel was floored by the words. The manuscript was a harrowing look into child abuse, the kind of work that haunts long after the last word is read. Soon Gabriel is contacted by the young man who wrote the piece, who reveals even more in person, including that he is dying of AIDS. Jess manages to overhear some conversations and has some doubts, given Gabriel’s fragile state. Is the manuscript a work of truth destined to be published, or has Gabriel fallen into a situation he isn’t equipped to cope with?
A slow paced, controlled motion picture with Robin Williams in the lead? I know he has won acclaim for some of his dramatic work, but I had some doubts. As it turns out, Williams is quite good here and plays the role with the kind of control it demands. The Night Listener is bound to divide audiences. Some will find it to be too slow and without enough punch at the end, while others will applaud the restraint shown, in not just tacking on a twist end to appease short attention spans. The movie has ample twists and turns, with tension to spare, but it doesn’t ask for immense leaps of faith like some films do. In other words, this one is about the journey and not the destination, so a lot of time is spent on exposition. The case promotes this is as a thriller and while there is suspense, this is more of a mystery than a thriller. As I mentioned, the pace is slow and moving between twists is deliberate, so not a lot of thrills to be had. But we don’t need speed and sucker punch twists to have a good movie, so don’t count out The Night Listener because of the slow pace. I wouldn’t call this a great movie, but it is worth a look and provides more than solid entertainment. So if you’re in the mood for a good mystery, then by all means give The Night Listener a rental, its well worth a chance.
Video: How does it look?
The Night Listener is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a dark movie in terms of visuals, but the transfer isn’t always able to keep the elements in balance. The print looks clean, but softness is sometimes an issue. I found close ups to be very crisp and detailed, but other shots come off as soft and that means detail isn’t up to snuff. If you combine the softness with the dark visual design, that is a recipe for a murky image and that is often the case here. Although contrast is well handled, the softness sometimes impacts black levels, which is not good news. In the end, the movie by no means looks bad, but these days we’ve come to expect a lot and sadly, this transfer doesn’t meet those expectations.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc uses a Dolby Digital 5.1 track for audio, which provides a solid audio experience. The surrounds get more than their fair share of use, between the music and effects, both of which do wonders for the atmosphere of the film. The soundtrack is used to bolster tension and atmosphere, which it does to good ends. The bass is unremarkable, but the overall track sounds great. The dialogue is crisp and clear, with no volume issues or layering problems. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a deleted scene, as well as a quick look into the movie’s plot twists.
